The Queen of the Valley Experience

Queen of the Valley Medical Center part of the Providence St. Joseph Health System in Napa, California, has shared strategies for quality improvement and patient safety.

Staff members at Queen of the Valley Medical Center are empowered to impact positive change in their departments, by reviewing data, identifying improvement opportunities, developing solutions, and taking ownership with the process of implementation. Unit metrics will be displayed on the Queen of the Valley Experience boards in each department. These boards are proudly displayed in the central corridor to ensure staff member engagement. Members of the senior leadership team round on departments weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) and more often to huddle with front line caregivers at the Queen of the Valley Experience boards and support department specific improvements. This process underscores the openness and transparency which are key to meaningful improvement in patient safety.

The culture of safety at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center is further enhanced with regular safety huddles of leadership staff members. The huddles provide a venue for real-time problem solving, as well as enhanced awareness of patient and work force safety. Additionally, the safety huddles ensure the consistency in messaging to front line staff members.